Melbourne overpower Knights to stay in hunt for minor premiership

Melbourne Storm recovered from a scratchy first half to outgun the Knights 32-14 in Newcastle on Saturday and keep alive their hopes of back-to-back minor premierships.

Champion halfback Jahrome Hughes steadied the ship after the Storm surprisingly found themselves 8-2 in arrears late in the first half, following two tries from towering Newcastle winger Dominic Young.

Melbourne regrouped to post their 12th victory of the season, and sixth on the spin, in the process consolidating their firm grip on second rung on the premiership ladder.

They are two wins behind competition pacesetters Canberra with eight games to play. Whether the Storm can add another minor premiership to their collection remains to be seen, but they are on track at least for a top-two position in the play-offs.

The Knights, meanwhile, remain 13th on the points table and will probably need a miraculous six wins from their remaining seven fixtures to have any hope of scraping into the post-season.

The Storm, minus Queensland Origin heroes Cameron Munster and Xavier Coates and injured fullback Ryan Papenhuzen, were their own worst enemies in the first half.

Eli Katoa stretches to score against the Knights.Credit: Getty Images

“I just thought we done a great job to get back into the game, when they had so much field position,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

“They were down on our line a fair bit in that first 30 minutes. I thought we did a good job to still be in it, then all of a sudden, we were in front.

“That was really pleasing, and then in the second half, we really clicked into gear I thought.”

Knights coach Adam O’Brien said “for big periods of the game, we actually did a really good job and actually held control of them”.

Shawn Blore carts it up.Credit: Getty Images

O’Brien added that before the game, the message had been to “hold your hand on the flame for as long as it takes, because they’ve got some guys there that can really hurt you”.

And so it proved.

Melbourne opened the scoring with a Nick Meaney penalty goal in the ninth minute but were then stung by a brace of tries from Young, who rejoined the Knights a month ago after he was released by the Roosters, barely 18 months into a four-year deal.

The English import produced a spectacular chip and chase in the 12th minute and won the race to ground the ball inches from the sideline.

He was in again in the 28th minute, when the Knights swung the ball to the right edge and he powered through two tackles to score.

Newcastle were on top, leading 8-6, only to concede a try in the last minute of the first half when Hughes chipped and back-rower Eliesa Katoa caught it uncontested to post his eighth try of the season.

The Storm grabbed the lead early in the second half when they regained possession from a bomb, skipper Harry Grant grubber-kicked into the goalpost padding, and lock Trent Loiero gratefully accepted the rebound to score.

Five minutes later, another Hughes chip kick was perfectly positioned for winger Kane Bradley to catch cleanly and score.

Loiero plunged over for his second try in the 59th minute after a classy short ball from Hughes.

The Storm’s Jack Howarth makes a break.Credit: Getty Images

Three minutes later, Hughes produced his four try assist, looping a cut-out pass to send Bradley over for his second try of the day.

The Knights hit back in the 72nd minute when Young, falling to ground in a tackle, threw a desperate pass infield and it bounced off a Melbourne defender for centre Fletcher Hunt to score.

Katoa was too big and strong in the 77th minute when he powered through three attempted tackles to score his second try.

Newcastle went into the game minus injured regulars Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe and Adam Elliott, and their cause was not helped when back-rower Dylan Lucas limped off with a foot injury.

Raiders set to re-sign young star on lucrative upgrade and extension

The Canberra Raiders have moved to lock down one of their rising stars, agreeing to a lucrative contract upgrade and extension for breakout fullback Kaeo Weekes.

The Raiders are putting the finishing touches on an upgrade and extension that will keep Weekes at the club until the end of the 2029 season.

Kaeo Weekes leaves a Rooster defender clutching at thin air.Credit: Getty Images

Weekes, who joined the Raiders from Manly last season, only agreed to an extension 10 months ago to stay at Canberra until 2027.

However, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is a huge admirer of the young fullback and wanted to tie him down on a deal that will see him become one of the highest-paid players at the club.

The final two years of his deal are worth more than $850,000 per season.

Origin decider beats Matildas to become most live-streamed program ever

The State of Origin decider has become the most live-streamed program in Australian history, surpassing the previous record set by the Matildas during their 2023 FIFA World Cup heroics.

Queensland’s 24-12 win over NSW at Accor Stadium had a total reach of 5.657 million, with a total television audience of 3.904 million. That’s an 8.1 per cent increase year-on-year, making it the highest-rating decider since 2013 and the highest rating of any game since 2016, according to VOZ and OzTam data.

Origin has become a streaming bonanza.Credit: Getty Images

But perhaps the most pleasing figures are those relating to streaming, giving audiences are increasingly consuming content on their devices. A total of 978,000 watched the game on 9Now, beating the mark of 957,000 previously set by the Matildas during the World Cup semi-final against England by 8000.

In addition to the 80,256 fans at the venue, Sydney boasted a total TV audience of 1 million people.

9Now was the top streaming platform on Wednesday across Australia with total people and all key demographics soaring to a high of 77 per cent with people aged 16-39.

The NRL has boasted it is the most-watched Australian sport, pointing to last year’s ratings results. The latest figures back up the boast and put it in a strong position to negotiate a new broadcast deal, particularly given that Perth and PNG will join the competition in 2027 and 2028 respectively.

Dragons target Roosters recruitment boss Daniel Anderson

St George Illawarra are in the final stages of the pursuit of a new recruitment manager, with former Eels and Warriors coach Daniel Anderson firming as the preferred candidate.

The Dragons have put their recruitment plans on hold until they can finalise a new head of recruitment and Anderson is on top of their list.

Sources with knowledge of the situation speaking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality told this masthead that a deal was not finalised but Anderson was the clear favourite after the club conducted interviews with half a dozen applicants.

The Dragons want to take some pressure off head coach Shane Flanagan and want an experienced recruitment manager to oversee the club’s future roster management plans.

Anderson has been working at the Roosters for several years. However, the TriColours recently signed Raiders recruitment guru Joel Carbone.

The Roosters were unaware of Anderson’s interest in the Dragons job when contacted on Monday night.

Lodge avoids charge after ending good mate’s comeback

Veteran Manly forward Matthew Lodge has described Brandon Smith as one of his closest mates after avoiding any judiciary sanction for a tackle that left South Sydney’s new recruit injured at Brookvale on Sunday.

Smith, making his debut for Souths and appearing for the first time since he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee playing for the Sydney Roosters last September, fell awkwardly on Sunday in a 75th-minute Lodge tackle and limped off the field.

Souths coach Wayne Bennett said after the game - a 30-12 win for Manly - that Smith had suffered suspected medial-ligament damage “from that tackle” and was likely to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

Asked if he was concerned about whether the tackle was a hip-drop, Bennett said it was up to the match-review panel to decide, adding: “You can make your own opinion on it. I’m frustrated about a lot of things at the moment, but it’s not doing me any good.”

On Monday, the game’s law enforcers ruled Lodge had no case to answer.

Lodge, who played under Bennett at Brisbane, was a teammate of Smith’s at the Roosters and said they remain close friends, even exchanging pre-game banter via text messages on Saturday night.

He was upset on the field and after the game that Smith had been injured, having also been through the long, painful process of recovering from a knee reconstruction.

“I can’t really comment on Wayne,” Lodge said. “He’s the greatest coach of all time, so nothing I say is going to have any credibility.

Brandon Smith tackles Matthew Lodge at Brookvale on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images

“What’s more important to me is Brandon Smith. He’s a good mate of mine. He’s coming to my birthday next week. I was more concerned about Brandon Smith than Wayne.”

Lodge said he’d be upset if Smith was out of the game for an extended period of time “because I went through that a few years ago. I was more concerned about that and making sure he was all right”.

“He’s a good friend and a good person. In that part, Wayne’s probably irrelevant.”

He added: “Wayne’s played the game. He probably knows that sometimes you fall in those positions. There was no intention or malice.”

Lodge insisted any damage caused by the tackle was accidental and unfortunate, and Smith vouched for him on social media, with a post that read: “Just want to make sure everyone understands Matt Lodge done nothing wrong, it was an accident.

“We are friends, and if you watch you can see nothing was wrong so please leave him alone. This stuff happens all the time.”

The incident was a drama Lodge could have done without as he re-establishes himself in Manly’s engine room, after starting the season on a train-and-trial contract.

The 30-year-old was restricted to training with the Sea Eagles’ top squad only once a week, maintaining his fitness with two boxing bouts, working on the building site at his new home, and completing a university degree.

A broken toe hindered his preparation, but he was recalled for the round-12 loss to Parramatta and has since featured in three consecutive wins against Brisbane, Wests Tigers and Souths.

With Taniela Paseka, Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Aloiai and Nathan Brown sidelined because of injuries, Lodge’s heavyweight frame has been a welcome addition to Manly’s engine room, and he revealed he has an option clause in his contract that will allow him to return to their full-time squad next season.

“I’ve got a deal here,” he said. “I’m going to let them know by October if I want to stay … they are tough to play on, the train and trial.

“You’re playing for the love of it. The kids are going to eat the contract in three days.

“That’s why I top it off with work a couple of days a week. I’m happy to do that this year.

“It’s good. I still care about footy. I want to play at a good level and do a good job for my team.”

He played only 28 minutes against Souths but made his presence felt, especially in the early exchanges, smashing out 87 metres in attack and 18 tackles.

“I thought he started the game really well,” Manly coach Anthony Seibold said.

“He set a real tone, him and Siua [Taukeiaho], at the start of the game. It’s probably his best little period of footy since he’s been back playing for us this year.”

Munster set to play Origin decider despite father’s death

Dan Walsh

Queensland captain Cameron Munster has left Origin camp after the death of his father, Steven, but plans to return and lead the Maroons in Wednesday’s decider.

Munster learnt of his father’s death overnight in Queensland camp on the Sunshine Coast, with coach Billy Slater confirming the news in a statement on The Sunday Footy Show.

“Unfortunately, we woke to the sad news of the passing of Cameron Munster’s father Steven Munster overnight,” Slater said on Sunday morning.

“Cam will exit camp to be with his family before rejoining his team for the game on Wednesday.

“On behalf of myself and our footy team and the state of Queensland, we send our thoughts, our love and condolences to Steven Munster’s family and friends, in particular his wife Debbie, his daughter Danielle and of course his son Cameron.”

Munster was given the option to stand down from Origin III at Accor Stadium by Queensland officials, but has told officials he wants to play in honour of his late father.

The Storm five-eighth produced a man-of-the-match performance and led a stirring Queensland upset in Perth after being handed the state captaincy. Longtime teammate and Cameron Smith backed Munster to return for the decider, while Broncos star Reece Walsh remains in camp as 18th man.

Cameron Munster is set to play the Origin decider.Credit: Getty Images

“Knowing Cameron quite personally… I think he’ll want to go out there and play for his father,” Smith said.

“Come Wednesday, his headspace will be where it needs to be.”

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